Date : Title : Qualification of a new flexitank thoughts: •The qualification of a new material and...
Transcript of Date : Title : Qualification of a new flexitank thoughts: •The qualification of a new material and...
Qualification of a new flexitank
David Bellmore (Scholle, USA)
Date :
Title :
Speaker :
Thursday 30 October 2008
Presentation Outline:
•Initial thoughts
•Lab test
•Application test
•Ship test
•Acknowledgements
Initial thoughts:
•The qualification of a new material and film / sheet manufacturer will be slightly different than the qualification of a flexitank already used in the market.
•This presentation addresses the ‘new material and film / sheet manufacturer’ version because it is more encompassing.
•If applicable, always test a control flexitank versus a new flexitank.
•As with most purchased components, audits and documentation are critical: •Audits:
•Manufacturer location•Fitting depot
•Documentation:•Signed specification for component types / materials, dimensions, etc. with a ‘no change’ clause.•COAs
•After qualification, scale-up responsibly.
Lab test:
•EU and FDA approval for direct food contact
•Organoleptic
•Film / sheet:•Material properties:
•Density: ASTM D1505•Melt index: D1238•Layer ratios (pictures)•Carbon black content: D1603 •Carbon black dispersion: D5596
•Physical properties:•Thickness: ASTM D5199•CD and MD tensile stregth and elongation: D638 / D6693•CD and MD tear strength: D1004•Puncture resistance: D4833
Lab test:
•Film / sheet:•Barrier:
•Chemical (pictures) and paint •Oxygen transmission rate (OTR)•Water vapor transmission rate (WVTR)
Lab test:
•Flexitank:•Air pressure (100%)
•Seal strength: shear and peel
•Circle: valves
•Extrusion: ends of flexitank
•Wedge: bottom of flexitank along the length
Application test:
•Extreme deceleration:
•Horizontal:•Rail or truck stoppage.
•Often severe enough to damage bulk head and container (top pictures).
•Vertical:•Container drop.
•Simulate (bottom pictures) or test.
Application test:
•Water pressure:
•Fill with water until flexitank burst.
•Record target volume, failure volume, and failure mode.
Ship test:
•Two main ship test:
•> 2x longest rail route portion only
•Actual route (ex: truck to rail to sea to truck)
•Organoleptic and chemistry
•Visual inspection:
•Abrasion, puncture, and snag (top pictures)
•Next to container
•Flex crack (bottom picture)•Headspace
Ship test:
•Visual inspection - continue:
•Insure that the aluminum foil or EVOH sleeve did not rip (bottom picture), or does not contain entrapped air (right picture).
Ship test:
•Performance:
•Flow rate / time to fill and empty
•Residual liquid
Acknowledgements:
•Mark Page - Market Manager (Scholle, Europe)